E/CN.4/2006/43 page 5 5. In his first report, the independent expert explains the link between the realization of human rights and extreme poverty, and the importance of addressing the problem of extreme poverty through programmes designed in terms of human rights. He also makes general suggestions for targeted programmes to alleviate the conditions of people living in poverty, lacking essentially in income and human development and mostly excluded for participating in social interactions, paying special attention to the situation of women. In particular he highlights one kind of programme that can have a substantial impact on eradicating extreme poverty: employment generation, especially for the poorer sections residing in both rural and urban areas and mostly in the unorganized sectors. 6. Since his first report, the independent expert has undertaken a number of activities. He held consultations with representatives from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during a mission to Washington, 7-11 March 2005. The meetings focused on the potential role of international financial institutions towards integrating human rights into poverty reduction efforts, particularly through the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs). The independent expert also explored different areas of convergence between the work of the international financial institutions and human rights and a human rights-based approach to poverty reduction. In particular, he discussed the World Bank’s approach to equity - the topic of the 2006 World Development Report - and the human rights elements of World Bank poverty and social impact analysis (PSIA). The meetings with the IMF and the World Bank were encouraging and revealed some openness to the integration of and consideration for human rights. The World Bank was particularly advanced in this regard. The meetings with the World Bank showed a convergence between the work and approach of a number of departments and the human rights approach and concrete suggestions were given as to areas where a stronger link could be made with human rights and a human rights-based approach to poverty reduction. 7. The independent expert also met with representatives of the World Bank, the IMF and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva in March, June and July 2005 to discuss the experience of these organizations in the area of social exclusion and the relationship between extreme poverty, social exclusion and employment. There was a convergence of views among the three organizations on the central importance of employment to poverty reduction. As the ILO documents in a number of recent reports and studies, low productivity, rather than high unemployment is a main obstacle to poverty reduction. The ILO World Employment Report 2004-2005 shows that 1.4 billion workers worldwide are caught in a “working poverty trap”, supporting themselves and their families on less than $2 a day. Representatives of the ILO noted that there was a need to boost productivity through ensuring access to markets and that State policies should focus on the situation of people living in extreme poverty. 8. From 24 October to 4 November 2005, the independent expert carried out his first official country mission, to the United States of America. The mission report illustrates that extreme poverty is not only a problem of poor developing countries, but a phenomenon that is found in most countries in the world. The United States is one of the wealthiest countries on earth but also has one of the highest incidences of income poverty among the rich industrialized nations. The mission report is presented to the Commission as an addendum to this report. 9. In the present report the independent expert further explores the link between human rights and extreme poverty, showing the distinct added value of looking at extreme poverty as a violation or denial of human rights.